If you are interested in studying for a PhD in this research subject area click here

For more details about the research topics, expertise and interests of this academic, click on the fingerprint icon

19 from 1,131 citations 

Last updated 17th April 2024

Dr. Shan Lou holds the position of Reader in Precision Metrology and is an integral part of the Centre for Precision Technologies (CPT) and the EPSRC Future Metrology Hub. Dr. Lou is deeply engrossed in pioneering research endeavors within the realm of precision metrology.

Shan received his BEng and MEng at the Central South University in China. He started his professional career in precision metrology at Hexagon Metrology, a leading global company in the metrology industry. Shan then moved to the University of Huddersfield to pursue a PhD degree whilst working for Hexagon Metrology on a part-time basis.
Shan is an editorial board member of the journal 'Bio-design and Manufacturing', a Committee Member of Dimensional X-ray Computed Tomography (DXCT), a Committee Member of the British Standard Institution (BSI) AMT/8 (Additive manufacturing) and TDW/4/4/1 (XCT), an International Scientific Committee member of the European Society for Precision Engineering and Nanotechnology (euspen), a Chartered Engineer of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA).
Shan was awarded an EPSRC New Investigator Grant and an RCUK Catapult Researchers in Residence Grant. Working with the National Measurement Institute (NPL), the Catapult HVM centres (MTC, AMRC), and wide industrial partners (Digital Surf, Nikon metrology, HiETA, Sartorius), he is investigating precision metrology technology for the additive manufacturing industry. 
Shan is the peer reviewer for many engineering and scientific journals, including Measurement Science and Technology, Measurement, Precision Engineering, Surface Topography: Metrology and Properties, IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation & Measurement, Optical Express. He was also an organising committee member and a session chair of ASPE Summer Topic Meeting – Advancing Precision in Additive Manufacturing, an organising committee member of the 4th Dimensional X-ray Computed Tomography conference.
Apart from research, Shan has been involved in teaching: (1) Module leader of NFE2105/NFM2016 Engineering Mathematics; (2) Lecture of NFA2168 Mechanical Engineering and Science; (3) Supervision of NHP2400-2223 final year projects; (4) Supervision of Master by Taught NMM3570-2223 Individual projects; (5) Enable project "Robot Arm" - NFE2102 Mechatronics

Research Supervision

We are seeking two PhD researchers to investigate robot-assisted metrology for the automated inspection of large, complex geometries, and one PhD researcher to focus on enhancing XCT imaging and data processing. For details on the scholarship, including fee waivers and bursaries, please visit the university's PhD studentship website.

Current students:

• Mr Y. Liu 2023-2027 PhD (Main supervisor): Investigating the impact of surface roughness and internal defects on the mechanical performance of additive manufacturing components
• Mr M. Hill 2023-2027 PhD (Acting main supervisor): In-situ quality control of material extrusion-based 3D printing for personalised medicines
• Mr K. Yin 2022-2026 PhD (Co-supervisor): Digital twin enabled in-line multi-objective optimisation for extrusion-based additive manufacturing
• Mr B. Mutiargo 2023-2025 Master by Research (Acting main supervisor): Fast surface determination method based on XCT simulation and machine Learning
• Mr W. Liu 2022-2026  PhD (Acting main supervisor): Investigation of uncertainty and calibration for dimensional XCT measurement
• Mr R. Ssebaggala 2022-2026 PhD (Acting main supervisor): Precision metrology of additively manufactured lattice structures using industrial X-Ray computed tomography
• Mr D. Broadbent 2021-2025 PhD (Main supervisor): Development of a modular reference artefact to characterise additive manufacturing systems performance and facilitate the adoption of XCT measurement
• Ms H. Huang 2020-2024 PhD (Co-supervisor): Reference form estimation for free-form surface characterisation based on triangular mesh
• Ms W. Cui 2020-2024 PhD (Co-supervisor): Intelligent characterization for the complex freeform structured surface

Completed:

• Ms X. Chen 2019-2023 PhD (Acting main supervisor): Investigation and improvement of the metrological structural resolution of X-ray computed tomography in the surface texture measurement of additively manufactured parts
• Mr S. Narasimharaju 2019-2022 PhD (Main supervisor): Investigation of microstructure, surface texture and mechanical properties of SLM of steels
• Mr W. Liu 2020-2021 MSc by Research (Main supervisor): Verification of x-ray computed tomography for additive manufacturing dimensional & surface texture metrology and deployment to internal geometry measurement

Particular Areas of Research

• Precision metrology for additive manufacturing - dimension, surface texture, and internal defects
• X-ray computed tomography metrology
• In-process metrology for advanced manufacturing
• Advanced surface texture measurement and characterisation
• Robot-assisted large-volume metrology
• Applied machine learning for metrology applications

External Research Funding

• Bespoke modular artefact system for X-ray computed tomography dimensional measurement of polymer additive manufacturing pharmaceutical devices, 2025-2026 EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account project, PI
• 3-in-1 X-ray computed tomography metrology for additively manufactured components (in partnership with Singapore A*Star SIMTech), Royal Society International Exchange (IES\R2\242113), 2024-2026, PI
• Future advanced metrology hub for sustainable manufacturing, EPSRC (EP/Z53285X/1), 2024−2031, Research CI
• Flexible Laser-based manufacturing through precision photon distribution, Horizon Europe Innovation Action (101138380), 2024-2026, UoH PI
• Investigation of dimensional accuracy and surface roughness of polymeric parts manufactured by additive manufacturing, Future Metrology Hub – Innovation Project (in partnership with Sartorius Stedim Lab Ltd.), 2023-2024, PI
• Correlating surface quality with internal defects of additively manufactured components, 2023-2024, EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account project, PI
• Framework agreement for collaboration, know-how licence and technical assistance, Industry project - Digital surf, 2021-2023, CI
• RCUK Catapult Researchers in Residence – Surface measurement methods for manufacturing, functioning & metrology of additively manufactured products, EPSRC(EP/R513520/1) (in partnership with Manufacturing Technology Centre), 2018-2022, PI
• Measurement and characterisation of additively manufactured surface texture, EPSRC New Investigator Grant (EP/S000453/1), 2019-2022, PI